AW19 TREND : From leopard-print to tigers and cheetahs

Trends come and go (and come and go), but there are some things that never go out of style. They may be more popular one season than another but, on the whole, they are forever pieces that form the cornerstones of our wardrobes.
And this season, amid all the ideas that will have their five minutes of fame, we saw the return of the leopard-print coat. It’s a piece your mother and grandmother probably wore before you, and yet it still feels relevant. If you buy one now, I bet you’ll be wearing it for years to come (and maybe your child will nick it from you, too).
What else would amp up denim in quite the same way? Or add a touch of sass to classic black suiting, or bring instant glamour to slinky evening wear?
Imagine a pair of white, wide-leg tux trousers (yes, I’m looking at you, Bianca Jagger circa 197O), finished with a hip-length, belted leopard-print coat. See, you need one, don’t you?
The leopard wasn’t the only big cat on the runway this season: there were tigers and cheetahs and zebras, too. It’s a jungle out there. Tom Ford turned classic leopard print red and green via sequined suits, worn with XL hoops and crystal-encrusted slingbacks for an Eighties feel. At Balenciaga and Givenchy, zebra print (my personal favourite) was the pattern du jour, with plunging, figure-hugging dresses that would live a long and lustrous life in any wardrobe. And with Balenciaga, a brand looking to address humanitarian issues, making considerable donations to the World Food Programme, you can also shop with a conscience. I’m sure there’s a saying about big cats, magic and wardrobes. It must be that they all co-exist excellently, no?
If leopard print isn’t your cup of tea, have you tried snake print?